Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2006
242 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the democratic institutions are established or developing in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7427/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe transition process inaugurated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, under the 2002 Sun City peace accords is due to conclude formally on 30 June 2006. Over the course of the past four years, major strides have been made in re-establishing a democratic and effective system of government in the DRC. The transitional national Government and Parliament have operated effectively since 2003. A new constitution was approved by an overwhelmingly majority in a referendum held in December 2005 and was formally promulgated on 18 February 2006. The imminent adoption of an electoral law by the transitional national Parliament will set the stage for the holding of the first genuinely free elections in the DRC in over forty years next June.
The successful holding of national elections in the DRC will be a major undertaking. Substantial international support will be required for the elections, which are likely to cost in the region of US$400 million to organise. These elections are important, not only for the future stability and democratic development of the DRC but also for ensuring peace and security throughout the Great Lakes Region as a whole. The EU and its member states have made substantial contributions in support of the electoral process, with the European Commission alone pledging some €150 million. Ireland has also made a national contribution of €500,000 in support of the DRC electoral process which I announced following my meeting last September with the Foreign Minister of the DRC, Mr. Raymond Ramazani Baya, en marge of the UN General Assembly.
Major challenges still remain if the transition process is to be successfully completed. Greater progress needs to be made in tackling impunity and establishing an effective system of justice. The continued existence of armed militias in eastern DRC, and the threat which they pose to the peace process, also needs to be confronted. The DRC Government and armed forces are working in close conjunction with MONUC, the UN peace-keeping mission, to confront the armed militias and hasten their disarmament. Pressure on the rebels to disarm has now been stepped up through the imposition on 1 November 2005 of sanctions against selected militia leaders who are judged by the UN Security Council to have violated the arms embargo in force against the DRC. The UN Security Council, through Resolution 1635 on 28 October 2005, has also authorised an increase of 300 in MONUC's strength in order to enhance its capacity for confronting the continued existence of armed militias.
The DRC Government also needs to hasten progress in the area of security sector reform, particularly with regard to completing the creation of a fully integrated national army and police and effectively establishing its authority throughout the DRC. This is particularly important, if a secure environment is to be created for the holding of national elections. The EU is actively supporting the process of security sector reform in the DRC, through deployment of two EU missions, EUPOL and EUSEC, which are concentrating on improving the capabilities of the Congolese police and armed forces, respectively. The EU is also currently considering a request from the UN to deploy a reserve force to support MONUC and enhance its quick reaction capabilities during the forthcoming election campaign. The Government, for its part, would support a positive response by the EU to this request. It is hoped that a decision on the EU's response will be taken shortly.
It is equally important that neighbouring countries, in particular Uganda and Rwanda, do all they can to end the threat posed by the armed militias in eastern DRC, support completion of the transition in the DRC and improve bilateral relations throughout the region. The regional dimension to the conflict remains crucial and underlines the importance of the Great Lakes Conference process, the second summit of which is now likely to take place in Nairobi later this year. Ireland is an active member of the Group of Friends of the Great Lakes, which supports the conference process, and has contributed €200,000 towards meeting the overall costs of the conference.
